Dos Santos joins UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones and middleweight champion Anderson Silva in the Nike family. Jones recently became MMA’s first fighter to land a global deal with the company. It’s been viewed as a major step forward for MMA and its athletes.

In Brazil, Nike primarily sponsors soccer/football teams and players. It also was a recent sponsor for the country’s Olympic teams.

Dos Santos, 28, is a six-year pro who joined the UFC after just seven fights. The Team Nogueira fighter, who’s nicknamed “Cigano” (meaning “Gypsy” and a tribute to a Brazilian soap opera and Dos Santos’ formerly long hair), currently is riding a 10-fight win streak with eight knockouts/injury stoppages.

Dos Santos (15-1 MMA, 9-0 UFC) next fights on pay-per-view on Dec. 29 when he headlines UFC 155 opposite Cain Velasquez (10-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC). Dos Santos won their first meeting a year ago at UFC on FOX 1 to win the heavyweight title.